Telecoms regulator Ofcom today launched their new Wi-Fi checker app ‘Ofcom Wi-Fi Checker’ with the aim of improving broadband speeds in the UK.
Ofcom claim that wireless broadband may not be working as well as it could be for nearly six million households, due to the way it is set up on the premises. This can be due to the router being in a certain location, bad cabling or wiring, or even interference from Christmas lights.
Too many people take the fact their connection is “dodgy” as a fact of life, without attempting to remedy the issue. Ofcom’s new app tests a Wi-Fi set-up and provides simple troubleshooting tips that may help solve Wi-Fi connection issues. While these tips may seem like common sense to some, sometimes the best solution is the simplest one.
So far, the app has received mixed reviews on the Google Play Store and Apple Store, where it can be downloaded for free. Many say the app is “far too basic to be useful”, providing less information for them than popular broadband speed checkers such as speedtest.net, and that it doesn’t make it clear what tests it is running or what information it is using. Other users praise the apps simplicity and easy to understand advice.
Ofcom CEO Sharon White, said: “Mobile and broadband have become the fourth essential service, alongside gas, electricity and water.”
“Our challenge is to keep supporting competition and innovation, while also helping to improve coverage across the country – particularly in hard-to-reach areas, where mobile and home internet services need to improve.
“It’s vital that consumers have the tools they need, such as the new Wi-Fi Checker, to get the most out of their communications.”